Deepwater Wind today announced plans to develop the West Coast’s first-ever offshore wind farm – a project poised to become the world’s first commercial project to use cutting-edge floating foundation technology.

“Principle Power’s WindFloat technology is on the cutting edge of the offshore wind industry, and their Portugal prototype proves that the WindFloat technology is ready for a demonstration-scale commercial deployment”

Deepwater Wind entered into an agreement several months ago with Principle Power to complete the development of the 30-megawatt (MW) WindFloat Pacific project, using Principle Power’s groundbreaking WindFloat technology.

This agreement demonstrates Deepwater Wind’s success in building a portfolio of offshore wind projects across multiple technologies and geographic areas. Much as Deepwater Wind’s Block Island Wind Farm is jumpstarting the East Coast offshore wind industry – where water depths are suitable for fixed foundations – the WindFloat Pacific project will similarly act as a catalyst for large-scale floating offshore wind farms in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean that are unsuitable for fixed foundations.

The agreement extends Deepwater Wind’s leadership and expertise to the West Coast and to floating foundation technology – solidifying the growing company’s position as the leading American offshore wind developer. Deepwater Wind is actively developing several offshore wind projects off the Eastern Seaboard.

“The WindFloat Pacific project is an exciting opportunity to bring offshore wind energy to the U.S. West Coast and to expand Deepwater’s Wind’s growing portfolio of clean energy projects,” said Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski. “We’re proud to be at the forefront of the American offshore wind industry, leading trail-blazing projects like Deepwater ONE, the Block Island Wind Farm – and now WindFloat Pacific – that have the power to revolutionize renewable energy in America for decades to come.”

The announcement comes as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the WindFloat Pacific project up to $47 million in matching grants to support the project’s engineering, permitting and public outreach efforts.

The WindFloat Pacific project was one of three projects selected for continued DOE funding, from an original group of seven projects in the DOE’s Advanced Technology Offshore Wind Demonstration Project Program.